JAPC delays decommissioning of Tsuruga-1

This began operation in 1970.

Japan Atomic Power Co. (JAPC) has delayed the completion of the decommissioning of its Tsuruga-1 Nuclear Power Plant, moving back the original schedule by seven years from fiscal year (FY) 2040 to FY 2047.

According to the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), the company has reported this to Fukui Prefecture and Tsuruga City, and submitted a revised decommissioning plan to the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan.

Tsuruga-1, Japan’s first commercial light water reactor, began operation in March 1970 and has been undergoing decommissioning since 2017. The dismantling of the reactor itself was initially scheduled to start in FY 2026.

However, the project faced delays after the manufacturer that had originally been contracted for the dismantling part of the reactor containment vessel withdrew. Additional time was also needed to develop the dismantling equipment.